Retrospective Criticism. 97 



but I never noticed that it causes the vine to shoot earlier in the following 

 spring. I must be permitted to say, that grapes out of doors are not, in 

 general, well understood. I have been a vine-dresser for these twenty 

 years. From the Black Hamburgh I never missed having a crop of fine 

 ripe grapes, from the beginning of the ripening season, till the Sunday be- 

 fore Christmas, save only once, that year (1814) in which the Emperor 

 Alexander of Russia was in London. In that season my crop was only fit 

 for wine, and very good it was, though made on the gooseberry-wine pro- 

 cess. The only secret in ripening grapes in the open air, is timely summer 

 pruning, and constantly keeping the fruit close to the wall. With attention 

 to this material point, I had bunches weighing from a few ounces, up to two 

 pounds; and have been offered 2s. 6d. per lb., though at one shilling they 

 would have paid all the rates and taxes of my place ! It is really a pity to 

 see so many naked walls, especially about London ; which, if covered with 

 vines, would yield abundance for the table, besides wine enough to supply 

 a bottle for every holiday in the year, at the moderate price of five pence ! 

 The Hamburgh ripens within a fortnight of the Black Cluster, and is a su- 

 perior fruit for every purpose. I always use open black muslin bags for 

 protectors, though I have seen a light woven fabric of horse hair, which I 

 should think would be preferable. The strongest equally swelled bunches 

 should be chosen, and freed from small and decayed berries before bagging. — 

 Superficial. 



Errors of the Press in Uie Article on Ornamental Gardening, by an Ama- 

 teur (Vol. IV". p. 211.) — Page 213., 7 lines from the bottom, for adjacent, read 

 adjunct. Again, at p. 214., 6 lines from the top, for ^o/ifon, read Belton. 

 Again, at p. 445., 12 lines from the top, for four read sour. — An Amateur. 

 Woodstock, October 10. 1828.) 



Various Errors by the Conductor. — Sir, You will oblige me by correcting 

 some of my papers inserted in Vol. IV., p. 319. By contracting and abridg- 

 ing them as you have done, I consider you have left out the most essential 

 part of them. 



Respecting the Disease on Celery, you have blended the two diseases, 

 named by me, together, by saying the former disease I have had but one 

 year, which should have been confined to the disease with the maggot in the 

 leaf. If you look to my paper, you will find I stated I had had the former 

 disease two years ; the words which would have conveyed to any person 

 what it was like, you have left out. I stated it was like the disease the 

 garden bean is subject to in autumn, thinking that probably it is not every 

 person that might understand what is meant by stating that it is of a ferru- 

 ginous nature. I have the disease on the celery this season, just come on : 

 some persons say it proceeds from the beans ; but the disease prevails where 

 there is no bean near, and where none have been during the season. 



Respecting Forsyth's Composition, you say I want to know what it is made 

 of; which of course must appear to your readers as if I either bought or 

 begged it, or I should have known what it was made of. I asked what 

 was its power, if too caustic, if too porous, or too absorbent, imbibing the 

 sap too freely. My own opinion of Forsyth's composition is, that it absorbs 

 the sap from the scion and crown of the stock, so as to prohibit a union. 

 I find it to be an excellent ingredient for wounds. 



Respecting the Mildew on Cucumbers, you did not state that the watering 

 should be done when there was likely to be a strong sun. 



In a paper which I sent to you, defending the head-gardener against the 

 journeyman gardener (Vol. lY. p. 210.), you have stated that there is no 

 exception on the part of the head-gardener or master : I stated eight times 

 out of ten it was the man's own fault if he did not improve his mind. I 

 am, &c. — John Damper Parks. 



To flower Mignonette during Winter and Spring. — Sir, Permit me to 

 suggest to you the correction of an article in Vol. IV. p. 445., concerning 

 VOL.V.— No. 18. H 



